Robert Eugene “Rob” Gillette, 43, Lamar, passed away Aug. 11, 2009, at his home after more than three years of ill health. Rob was born April 8, 1966, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Gerald Lloyd and Roberta Jane (Hudson) Gillette.
Rob attended South East High School in Cherokee, KS, until his senior year and joined his maternal grandfather and uncles in their construction/brick laying business. He later returned to school and received his high school diploma.
Rob, in 1994, went to the police academy at MSSC in Joplin, graduating second in his class. He had been a deputy sheriff for Barton County, was a Dade County Deputy for several years working lake patrol from April through September for Stockton Lake and surrounding area. He was a reserve police officer for the City of Lamar and remained a commissioned deputy for Barton County Sheriff’s Department. Rob was a certified police sniper for the special operations team serving high risk warrants. He was an investigator for the South Central Major Case Squad and in 1990 had been appointed temporary reserve officer of Golden City. Rob worked 12 1/2 years as a full time fire fighter/driver engineer for the City of Lamar, having to retire due to ill health in February 2007. He was a nationally accredited fire fighter I and II through the state of Missouri and a certified hazardous materials technician, certified scuba diver and certified in high angle rescue repelling. He was supervisor for the fire department.
Rob also worked for the doughnut shop, Tapjack, Isenhower Lumber, Hargis Package Store, Doug Parker Construction, and waxing / burnishing floors after hours of local businesses.
Rob thoroughly loved working with the Adopt-A-Cop program through the elementary school well as the D.A.R.E. program and Fish With A Cop. He enjoyed teaching fire safety to the kids on safety day, allowing the young ones to suit up at the fire station and spray water from the hose was just an opportunity for him to be the kid at heart he really was; “To feel like myself again.”
Rob was extremely motivated every September to stand in the streets come sunshine or rain to raise money for the children and adults in the four state area afflicted with a neuromuscular disease. He loved going to MDA camp and helping the kids enjoy a summer activity that they would otherwise not be afforded. He assisted with Relay For Life activities.
Rob was a member of the Lamar Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He dearly loved his Heavenly Father Jehovah. Rob was very tender hearted. He wore his heart on his sleeve and gave his heart and soul to everyone his life touched.
He was good-natured, laid back and easy going, very much a practical joker and good at it and a hopelessly incurable romantic. He was a wonderful father. He thrived on knowledge, learning more to help someone in their time of need. He was an extremely hard worker and a writer of beautiful poetry. The rush of adrenalin got him through one more call, fire or law. He loved jalapeno peppers, angel hair pasta with alfredo sauce, sea food, sky diving, scuba diving, steel guitars, his Harley Davidson motorcycle, George Strait, his beloved dog, Penny, antiques, music, music trivia from any generation, “momma’s egg plant” and pot-bellied pigs.
Rob married Tammy Lea (Lamb) Brasher on Nov. 24, 1995, in Stockton.
Rob was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Robert Earl Hudson; maternal grandmother, Lucinda Jane (Sells) “Cindy” Hudson; paternal grandfather, Ross Gillette; paternal step-grandfathers, Eugene Brewer and Curtis Collins; and two uncles, Matthew and James Hudson.
In addition to his wife, survivors include: one son, Seth Gillette - Durant, OK; step-children – Katie Nikodim, and husband, Matthew - El Dorado Springs, and Johnathan and Gregory Brasher – Stockton; granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth Nikodim; his parents, Lloyd and Roberta Gillette, Pittsburg, KS, a sister, Sherri Owen, and husband, Rocky – Lamar; brother, Bryon Gillette, and wife, Karen - Webb City; four nieces - Heather Buynar, and husband, Eric – Joplin, Darby and Corey Owen – Lamar, and Tracie Lamb - Webster, NY; a great niece, Hadley Buynar; one brother-in-law, Rick Lamb, and wife, Sharon - Webster, NY; paternal grandmother, Ruth Collins, Pittsburg, KS; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services were held Friday, Aug. 14, in the Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar, followed by graveside services and interment in the Lake Cemetery, Lamar.
Memorial contributions may be made to The National Kidney Foundation or the Muscular Dystrophy Association in care of the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in care of the funeral home which will be used in assisting the family to defray the cost of funeral expenses and outstanding medical bills.
